Electric binding-post.



R. K. WITZ.

ELECTRIC BINDING POST. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1,1911.

L1%4%UV Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

ROBERT K. WITZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

- 'ELECTRIC BINDING-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee-1a, low.

Application filed July 1, 1911. Serial N 0. 636,498.

cago, in the county of Cook and State of.

Illinois, have invented certain-new and use ful Improvements in.Electric Binding Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description I t the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the.art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

v This invention relates to a novel construction in an electric bindingpost, the object being to provide simple and eflicient means forenablingelectric conduit wires to be secured thereto withoutnecessitating the usual manipulation, such as bending a hook at the endof the wire to be attached and then engaging the "same with the setscrew of the binding post.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1. is aview in side elevation partly broken away of an incandescent electriclamp socket equipped with binding ance with my invention. Fig. 2' is afragmentary detail central longitudinal section of the same on anenlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the shell of the tit socketbeing omitted. Fig. 3- is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of thebinding post as formed in lamp sockets, plugs and similar electricdevices. Fig.

' is a view in side elevation of a binding post such as is used onswitch boards, electric bells and the like, constructed in accordancewith my invention, the plate to which said post is secured being shown.in

section. Fig. 5- is a detail sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig:r 4.

My invention has for its particular object to provide simple andellicient means for winding the ends of wires about the screw of thebinding post between the head of which and an opposing member such wireends are intended and adapted to be clamped so as to avoid the necessityof first bending the hook on the wire and then engaging the shank of thebinding screw therein as is usually requisite in effecting binding postconnections. This operation is very frequently attended withconsiderable dilliculty especially in such structures asincandespostsconstructed in accordcent electric lamp sockets, plugs and similardevices, in which the space occupied by the binding post is extremelylimited and the latter relatively diflicult of access. I

In Fig. 3 I have particularlyillus trated the binding post of anincandescent electric lamp socket such as is ordinarily and mostgenerally employed in the United States. Said binding postconsists of aflat strip A of metal, such as brass or copper, which is provided with athreaded opening in which the shank B of the set screw for securing thewire ends to said binding post is engaged, the wire being adapted to beclamped between the head C of said screw and a portion of said strip orbar A. The latter is usually bent upwardly sage of said shank B and, asshown in Fig.

-2-, the said portion of said bar A con-- .taining said screwisdisposed" in a recess D in the porcelain body E of the socket, orother device, thus rendering the operation of engaging the end portion Fof an electric wire Gr between the head C of said screw and the opposingportion of the strip or bar A a matter of considerable diliic ulty. Torender this a-matter. of great ease and con venience is the object ofthis invention and is accomplished by providing in said shank B of thescrew. immediately underneath the head C thereof, an opening H for thepasssage of the wire end to be engaged by said bindingpost. The saidopening H is of a diameter amply large to receive an electric wire ofthe gage usually employed for this class of work so as to render theinsertion of a wire end therein a matter of ease for the operator. Aftersuch insertion of said wire end the said screw is rotated by means of ascrew driver in the ordinary manner thus winding the end portion of thewire reawardly of that portion which is contained in said opening Haround said shank and as the latter during such rotation passes fartherthrough the threaded opening in which it is engaged the head C of saidscrew is brought to bear l1)0I1 the wire thus firmly clamping the sameagainst the opposing portion of the strip-or bar A, as will be apparent.aliecting this con nection the screw is preferably, primarily turned soas to necessitate giving it one or one-and-one-half turns in theopposite direction for the purpose of bringing the head thereof intoclamping relation to the interposed wire end depending, of course,

upon the nature of the connection and the.

. need of providing suificient surface contact between the wire and thebinding post to reduce resistance at this point to a minimum.

' While my invention is particularly adapted to the binding posts ofelectric lamp sockets, plugs and the like, which are not readilyaccessible, it is also very well adapted for use on switch boards forcontrolling high pressure currents where the-operation said opening J,the operator holding said' wire on an insulated part thereof and withhis other hand manipulating the screw driver for turning said screw I.The screw driver being provided with a wooden handle is substantiallyinsulated and as the operator is not obliged to touch the exposedportion of a livewire with his other hand in effecting a connection itwill be obvious that slipping of the screw driver and the contact of themetallic portion thereof with another live terminal will not endangerthe operator.

At the same time in turning the screw I'a very neat connection ,is madebetween the wire and the binding'post.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gomminloner of Patents is maintained- The binding post constructedin accordance with my invention affords the further advantage ofproviding very much greater surface contact between the wire and thebinding post than isordinarily provided in 'devices of this character.'

The invention is very simple and efficient and affords a means ofeffecting great economy in the time required to make connections besidesrendering the operation safe under conditions where heretofore it wasfrequently relatively unsafe.

I claim as my invention:

An electric binding post comprising a base member having ascrew-threaded aperture therein with a plain flat contact surfacesurrounding said aperture, an externally threaded binding screw formedwith a diskshaped head having a fiat under side extending parallel withthe surface surrounding'the aperture in said base member and adapted toco-act therewith to impinge against opposite surfaces of a-wire insertedbetween said parts, said screw-threaded member being formed with atransverse perforation immediately beneath its head for receiving theend of thenvire, substantially as set forth. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT K. wrrz.

Witnesses:

Man M. BOYLE, R. W. Lo'rz Washington, D. C.

